Kaisen Chirashi Set

With a name like that, it's the only reason you need for ordering this set.

Pickled vegetables
Remember kids, to always eat your greens!

Chilled Tofu
Forgot to take a picture but you should know what a tofu looks like.

Chawanmushi
Basically a steamed egg custard. Just like the one mum always cook back home with minced meat. Why do you think it's called Chawanmushi? Cause it's served in a "cawan" and it's mushy! Actually googled it and it literally means "tea cup steam".

The main dish. Assorted sashimi with rice.
I love sashimi! Felt kinda bad eating it though. Cause it just looks soo good!

Udon
The noodles were nice and chewy! mmhmm~

Green Tea Ice-cream
If you like green tea and ice-cream, I don't see any problem here. You get to choose between two flavours. The other being vanilla.

By the way, this is one of the set lunches served at Shoya. It's a bit pricey ($24.80 - $38pp) but it's definitely cheaper than the dinner menu ($80 -$150pp).

http://www.shoya.com.au/

~ gochiso sama deshita ~

Sword Fights, Explosions, Giant Robots and a Girl named Lightning

Seriously, how long are they gonna continue teasing us with trailer after trailer. Seems like this is the "final" Final Fantasy XIII trailer. Woots!~ It's looks pretty damn awesome. Especially the ending where it became all Star Wars / Gundam like.

Minute 3:49 is just pure gold.





I want a PS3 for Christmas! Then again, the english version's only coming out next year.


~ Julian Tay, shameless fanboy ~

If it's Raining, bring an Umbrella

I'm not sure why but I've been feeling disappointed and dishearten these past few days. Must have been because I lost the video competition I wanted so badly to win or that McDonalds haven't gotten back to me about a part-time job yet. It sucks when you put so much effort into accomplishing something only to be bested or rejected.

I'm the kind of guy who loves winning. To be the best in what I do and what I can do. To be Number One! That's why I'm always putting a lot of effort into the things I do. Unfortunately, I never had and still don't have what it takes to stand at the top. I have always been the underdog. The least expected to win when it comes to studies, sports and even relationships. Looking back now, it's actually true.

However, I've always thought of myself as being a winner. Wanna know why? Cause the person I've always been competing with was, myself. I was the person who calls the shots. So as long as I've met my own expectations, I'll be happy. The problem with this is, well there's three problems actually:

1) Your standards may be too low for others. I aim for a 70 in an exam, mum's pissed off at why I couldn't get 80 plus. Team assignment. Your teammates aren't to happy with your work. They trash it and blame you when the results ain't satisfactory.

2) You set your standards to high. You aim to win 1st prize in a video competition. You finish 2nd.

3) You will always be subjected to comparison. Live with it.

Number 1 and 3 involves the opinion of others but number 2 is something more personal. Here's a secret about myself. I'm a dream believer. I believe in dreaming BIG and pursuing the unconventional. Alas, the harsh hands of reality has shocked me awake as if to say, "Wake up boy, stop being stupid." But when did we stop dreaming dreams? When did I stop dreaming dreams? HA! Is this what they call growing up? If so, I refuse to do so. I want to continue dreaming and honestly I want these dreams to become reality.

BUT........ there will always be the butt but. ( This is the part where everybody sighs )

But (again), I don't think we should be afraid of setting our standards high. Yes, we may and we will be disappointed but (yet again) it's like a game of rock-paper-scissors. You're bound to win at least once. If you don't, you could always nuke your opponents.




ps. Sorry for the show of weakness. I guess it's true when they say Christian men are more emotional. Hmmm maybe that's just me. But I guess it's alright once in a while. By the way, this have nothing to do with the amount of Japanese drama I've been watching recently. True story.


~ I've got lots more to work on but I'm still holding on ~

Emotion Sickness

What’s on my mind right now? A lot of things and yet at the same time, nothing. Things are moving so quickly I’m afraid I can’t keep up. I’ve never been this afraid before. Afraid of the constant change in time and times. I feel that I’m about to lose something very important to me. My premonition never fails me. It’s like a sixth sense telling me to get ready.

It’s coming Julian.

But this time it's different. I don't think I'm strong enough to face it. I'm scared. I'm not even in the mood to joke. This time I'm not even brave enough to say, "Bring it!".

When did this all started?
When did I begin to doubt?
When did I stop holding on?

Onto hope.
Onto future.
Onto Him.

The same power that conquered the grave lives in me.
Your love that rescued the Earth lives in me.

How can you be so nice God?
It pains me. It freakin' pains me.
I know that you've forgiven me.
But still, it hurts. What does?
I don't know.

This isn’t the time for me to be arrogant.
I should stop kidding myself.
I should stop pretending.
I’m not all that strong.

I need help.






I need help.


~ it's raining ~

Video Games and Religion

Read an interesting article on Yahoo today.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/the-bible-is-coming-to-xbox-360/1372979

Video games and religion have a pretty rocky history together, but where most see discord, one developer sees the light.

B&H Publishing Group has announced plans to release "Bible Navigator X" for the Xbox 360 in early December. Based on the Holman Christian Standard Bible, the downloadable tome will feature both the Old and New Testaments in addition to helpful search tools. Aaron Linne, B&H Publishing Group's executive producer of digital marketing, explained the unlikely pairing.

"This application will bring the Bible into people's living rooms and onto their televisions in a completely new and innovative way," he said in a press release. "The Xbox isn't just secular entertainment anymore. We can use technology that other people developed to study Scriptures through a new medium. Some people are just more comfortable with a controller in their hands than a book."

Oddly, the 360 version of The Good Book will be found in the 'Indie Games' section -- because what's more indie than Christianity? -- and will run a cool 400 Microsoft Points, or about $5.

~ Christianity is indie? ~

Part 1 - Gearing Up

Mann, ever since uni ended I've been pretty lazy to blog. But when I do blog, they all end up going into the drafts folder, incomplete. Looking back at all the half-written posts, my train of thoughts is a big mess. Funny that I'm saying this now, but it's time to get organized. It's time to refocus.

Mentoring sessions. Yes, I've mention this before but never really went into depth about it. So today I'll be sharing about "Shockwave" the movement started by the dynamic-duo, Homer and Vivienne, which I believe has impacted and challenged those who attended.

When Krystal first emailed about this mentoring thing, I wasn't really clear about it or how it would run. All I knew was that it's about mentoring (very duhh I know) and I that could use this. Use it for what? At that time, only for myself. I mean it's always good to have head knowledge about certain things, yea?

And so I stuck to it. Never missing a single session even at the expense of sleep and fun.

The materials which were taught were really practical and hands-on but were balance out with definitions, commandments and the likes. For example, qualities of a mentor, the different kinds of mentors and the purpose of mentoring.

The definition of mentoring, as given by Vivienne, is:
A relational experience in which a person empowers another by giving them God-given resources.

Btw, the purpose of "Shockwave" is to build up mentors within a Christian community. So for those of you who think Christianity is a load of bull, please do bear with me.

I won't go into detail about the commandments and qualities cause if you wanna know, you can attend "Shockwave" next time! What I really want to talk about is what I've learnt and the experience that I've...experienced during the past 10 sessions.

Half-way through "Shockwave", we had the tables turned on us. Instead of just having Homer, Vivienne and Krystal facilitating the sessions, we had the opportunity to facilitate one session each, together with 2 other fellow mentees. This is what Homer dub "reverse mentoring". We weren't given anything specific to share about but because of that, we managed to learn more about one another. Our struggles, passion and journey thus far.

I shared about four things and I gave each one of them a title:

1) Past, present, future - my journey thus far
2) Corner of Memories - Pursuit of my true self
3) Non-existent love story - relationship conference 09
4) ~PEEP SHOW~ my relationship with God.

Initially, I planned to just share one or two of them but as I shared, I realized that all of them were linked together. So I ended up sharing about them all. Yes, I did share about this blog and for the other topics, if you interested, we could chat about them. Another time.

With this "reverse mentoring" it became more than just a mentoring session. It wasn't just a method used to train us how to mentor but with every sharing, there is always something new to be learn, new inspirations and new revelations.

Speaking of revelations, I had a few revealed to me during this time. Some which has been on the back of my mind but has yet to come to past. Some unexpected and demanding. Some intriguing and yet to be realized.

Simple revelations.

Which will be revealed next time! Look forward to part 2!


~ you knew it was coming, right? ~

09.03.2010

Finally, the US release date for Final Fantasy XIII is out. Accompanied with this overly epic video.

Was kinda dumbfounded when they announced that Leona Lewis will be performing the theme for the English version with her own song "My Hands".



What do you guys think?


~ woohoo, chocobo ~

Indifference

Elisa asked me an interesting question today.

"Julian. Are you happy?"

A simple question really. But is it?

Stunned and caught a little off guard, my only response was, "Well, I'm not sad."

Most of the time happiness is something which is determine by the circumstances in our life at that certain moment.

But what would it be like to be happy just because? Hmm that sentence structure is a little off but what would it be like to be genuinely happy just because........you're happy.

Think. Think. Think.

Well, I'm pretty happy when I'm breakdancing or when I'm having a happy meal but that's influenced by "the circumstances of life". Isn't it?

Think. Think. Think.

This kind of deep thinking is too much for me to handle (and it's making me hungry). Lets just get back to the heart of the question.

"Julian. Are you happy?"

Wait minute. Why would she ask me such a question all of a sudden? Did I look pissed off, sad or something? It's probably just my normal face anyways.

Think. Think. Think.

Ok, that's enough thinking for one night. Back to the question.

"Julian. Are you happy?"





I'm.......indifferent.

~ never thought I would use that word again ~

THIS IS IT

I wanna watch! I wanna watch! I wanna watch! I wanna watch! I wanna watch! I wanna watch!


~ first and last exam tomorrow ~

Faith

Read this post with a steady pace and with the music. If timed carefully, you will finish reading everything by the time the music ends.

Ok, you can hit play now.


Father God.
You who are so awesome and powerful.
I come before you today, humbled before your presence.
Free me Lord, of my anxieties and worries.
Allow me to come before you whole-heartedly, in a child-like manner.
Hungry and thirsty for you once again.
Let me not be blinded by my own flesh but allow my spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear you.
To worship you to the fullest without holding back.
Forgive me for my sins.
I surrender my anger and bitterness to you.

This week has been the most annoying one I had in a long time.
The thing that really breaks my heart and pisses me off the most is when family fights.
I fought with my brother.
I hate it.
What am I to do?
He suffers from the older brother syndrome ("I know everything else better than you plus you're an idiot").
I suffer from younger brother syndrome (rebellious).
*sigh*
The worst kind of combination if I ever see one.
I don't know what to do about this God.
I can only surrender this to you.
I have trouble making peace with myself what more with others.
With you God, I am strong.
So why do I feel so weak?
I'm stuck again.
I'm getting a little tired.
A little lazy.
Damn.
I am gonna go down like this?
Ceh! weak.

Come on Jules!
You're stronger than that.
You know that.
You have so much ahead of you.
You are flowing with so many brilliant thoughts and ideas about the future.
Fun, life-bringing, awesome ideas.
They may be challenging but you know you can do it.
I can do it.
There will definitely be change.
There will always be change.
By now I should be used to it.
I take pride in my ability to adapt to change.
Tough? Yes.
But I will not be disheartened, discouraged.
I'm gonna go strong.
Stronger than ever before.
God I need you.
And I'm gonna need you more and more.
Train me Lord. Discipline me Lord.
Help me reach my fullest potential.
I know that through you it's possible.
Even in the dark and troubled times.
That is why I'm still singing songs of joy and praise.
Thank you God. Thank you God.
I love you.


Your child,
Julian


~ pray friends, sometime that's all you need ~